Pivoted closure latch



Aug. 12, 1958 M. A. WALLACE 2,847,239

PIVOTED CLOSURE LATCH Filed Aug. 30, 1956 INVENTOR. Won 23w fl. M/allaceBY I nited. ,sta es Patent PIVOTED CLOSURE LATCH Montie A. Wallace, FortStockton, Tex.

Application August 30, 1956, Serial No. 607,053

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-67) This invention relates to latch constructiondesigned primarily for securing a closure in a closed position, theprimary object of the invention being to provide a latch which willprevent accidental opening of the closure due to vibrations.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pivoted latch whichis so constructed and arranged that it will be held in its activelatching position by gravity, eliminating the use of springs or similarmechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which may bereadily moved to an unlatched position, should it be desired to open theclosure to which the latch is attached, the latch being provided withmeans for holding the pivoted latch member in either its latched orunlatched position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pivoted latch whichmay be swung to an inactive or unlatched position and held in suchposition to permit the closure to be readily swung to an open or closedposition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure l is an elevational view illustrating alatch constructed in accordance with the invention, as moved to itslatching position.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevational view illustrating the slots of the latchwith respect to the latch plate.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view illustrating the pivoted latch as moved toits unlatched position.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevational view of the latch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pivoted latch independent of thelatch plate.

Referring to' the drawing in detail, the latch member is indicatedgenerally by the reference character 5 and embodies a substantiallyL-shaped body including the main section 6 and a laterally extendedlatch section 7.

The main section 6 is provided with a slot 8 disposed along the axis ofthe main section, the lower end of the slot 8 terminating in spacedrelation with the end 9 of the slot 10 which extends throughoutsubstantially the entire length of the latch section 7. One edge of theslot 10 is provided with an offset 11 for purposes to be hereinaftermore fully described.

The latch member also includes a latch plate 12 which is elongated andis of a length to extend substantially the entire length of the mainsection 6, as better shown by .Fig. 1 of the drawing.

This latch plate 12 is provided with openings adjacent to the endsthereof through which the securing screws 13 Y extend, one of thesecuring screws 13 passing through the slot 10, while the other screw 13passes through the plate 12 and through the slot 8 of the main section.

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A securing screw 13 at the upper end oftheplate 12 provides a pivot pinfor. the latch member so that when the latch'member is moved to aposition as shown by Fig. 1 of'the. drawingpt'he latch section7 willextend laterally and pass under the keeper, plate 14' which secured tothe closure with which the latch used, by means of the screws 15, whichscrews pass through the keeper plate 14 and are embedded in the closureframe, which in the present showing is indicated by the referencecharacter 16.

The keeper plate 14 is provided with an offset portion 17 under whichthe latch section 7 moves.

The ofiset portion 11 provides the locking feature for the latch memberwhen the latch member is held in its inactive or unlatched position, sothat the latch member will be held disengaged from the keeper when it isdesired to maintain the closure unlatched with the closure in its openposition.

With the latch member in this position, the screw 13 at the lower end ofthe latch plate 12, moves into the offset portion 11, so that in orderto move the latch member to its latching position, it is necessary tolift the latch member to disengage the screw 13 from the otfset portionof the latch section 7, whereupon the latch may be twisted or turned inthe arc of a circle, moving the laterally extended latch section 7 underthe keeper, the screw 13 at the upper end of the latch plate 12 assuminga position at the upper end of the slot 8, holding the latch in itslatching position against accidental displacement due to vibrations.

Extending from the latch plate is the pin 18 which is gripped by theoperator in moving the latch member in either its latched or unlatchedposition.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of construction ofthe latch member will be obvious, and that further detailed disclosureof the invention is unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure latch adapted to engage a keeper, said latch comprising anL-shaped latch member adapted to be secured to a closure, said latchmember including a main section and a laterally extended latch sectionfor engagement under said keeper, said sections having slots extendinglongitudinally thereof, the slot of said latch section having an oltsetportion adjacent to the end thereof, a latch plate fitted over said mainsection, a pair of headed securing members extending through said latchplate and slots, one of said headed securing members providing a pivotfor the latch, the other headed securing member adapted to extend intosaid offset portion of said latch section, normally holding said latchsection in an unlatched position and an operating pin extendinglaterally from said latch member for effecting operation of said latchmember to its latched or unlatched position.

2. A closure latch adapted to engage a keeper, said latch comprising anL-shaped member embodying a body portion and a laterally extended latchsection for engagement under said keeper, each of said sections having aslot disposed longitudinally thereof, the upper edge of one of saidslots having an offset portion adjacent the end thereof, headed securingmembers extending through said slots, pivotally securing said latch to aclosure, one of said headed securing members adapted to move into saidoffset portion temporarily holding said latch member in its unlatchedposition, and an operating pin extending laterally from said latchmember for effecting operation of said latch member.

3..A closure latch adapted to engage a keeper, said latch comprising anL-shaped body constructed of flat metal material including a mainsection and a laterally extended latch section for engagement under saidkeeper,

said section's having slots disposed longitudinally thereof, ReferencesCited in the file f this patent spaced securing screws extending throughthe slotsof said ST fE main section and laterally extended sectionsecuring said latch to a closure, one of said screws providing a pivot818503 Seaman 1906 for said latch, the other screw guiding said latch-inits 5 885496 Leopold 1908 pivotal movements, one of said slots having anoffset 2509844 Saner May 1950 portion on its upper side adjacent the endfor the recep- 2,763,504 Mettler Sept. 18, 1956 tion of one of saidscrews, normally holding said latch in an unlatched position, and a pinextending laterally from said body for effecting the operation of saidlatch. 10

